AMA releases summary of bill to restore CSR payments

The American Medical Association (AMA) has released a summary of a bill by Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-TN) and Patty Murray (D-WA) that would “restore the cost sharing reduction (CSR) payments that have been made to ACA (Affordable Care Act) plans to offset insurance company losses associated with reducing deductible and copayment amounts for low-income enrollees earning between 100 percent and 250 percent of the federal poverty level.”

AMA explains that, “Last week, the [Trump] Administration stopped these payments, citing a legal analysis from the Justice Department that supports a court ruling that the payments are unconstitutional because the funding has not been appropriated by Congress.”

AMA says the Alexander-Murray legislation would “(1) provide the Congressional authority to restore the CSR payments through the end of 2019 and (2) streamline the process for states applying for Section 1332 waivers and (3) expand the availability of catastrophic plans.”

But AMA also notes that, “At this time, the pathway for voting on the Alexander-Murray proposal has not been established; both the White House and key members of Congress have indicated that they are not prepared to support the agreement in its current form.”